Bushfire air fleet on way

By Chee Chee LeungAugust 23 2002

A multi-million-dollar program to run a national fleet of firefighting aircraft is expected to be in place before what fire services and the weather bureau warn could be a severe bushfire season this year.

Under a strategy being considered by the Federal Government, high-powered helicopters and firebombers would be on standby in strategic locations across the country.

The strategy, proposed by the Australasian Fire Authorities Council for the bushfire season between October and March, would be funded jointly by state and territory agencies and the Commonwealth.

The Bureau of Meteorology's fire weather forecaster, Kevin Parkyn, said that "the writing's on the wall" for severe bushfires in Victoria. He said: "If we don't get decent rains over the next three months, then it could be catastrophic in terms of the amount of fuel available in case that fire develops."

The Australasian Fire Authorities Council hopes to set up a fleet of four heavy helicopters or helitankers, capable of dumping 9000 litres of water, plus five medium helicopters and two fixed-wing firebombers for $28.2 million a year, with about $23 million from federal funds.");document.write("

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The council's chief executive officer and chairman of the Country Fire Authority, Len Foster, said last summer's bushfire crisis in New South Wales - during which helitankers fought the blaze - showed Australia needed to have such a fleet on standby.

"The very frightening thing is that the fire season is going to be very severe this year and we just want to make sure these aircraft are available to handle the potential loss of life and property," Mr Foster said.

The government was considering a contribution of about $10 million as part of a smaller $17 million package, said a spokesman for the Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government, Wilson Tuckey. The spokesman said the government was working towards having the strategy in place before November.

The bushfire season has already started in New South Wales, with about 20 fires breaking out across the state less than two weeks ago.